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Artwork for Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop

Vulture
Pop Music
Hip Hop
Country Music
Music Industry
Taylor Swift
Madonna
Spotify
Billie Eilish
Tiktok
Sabrina Carpenter
Reggaeton
Beyoncé
Billboard Hot 100
Oasis
Electronic Music
Max Martin
Chappell Roan
American Music
Tate Mcrae
Robyn

Listen closer to pop music, and hear how it moves us. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes553Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Switched on Pop

Latest Episodes

Lizzy McAlpine opens up about her 4th album Angel alongside collaborators Mason Stoops and Taylor Mackall. Recorded live at Power Station at Berklee NYC.

Songs Discussed

Lizzy McAlpine "Anybody's Fool"

Lizzy McAlpine "A Car Wash and a New Pair of ... more

Throughout pop history, groups from The Ink Spots to the Beach Boys to Fleetwood Mac all forged their sound in the alchemy of vocal harmonies, harnessing the magic that happens when different voices join as one. Then suddenly, right around the 1980s,... more

For the first time in history, five country songs were at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and Stella Lefty all have songs that range from two-stepping hits to borderline Americana: what do these songs say a... more

Many of us keep a journal, but few of us are able to turn our unvarnished thoughts into cultural moments touching on love, death, and guitars quite like Phoebe Bridgers. Her new album Lost Weekend isn’t just throwing the pages of her personal life in... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Lang Lang
Pianist, internationally renowned classical performer
Lang Lang Foundation / various orchestras
Episode: A piano lesson that will change how you listen (ft. Lang Lang)
Trevor Horn
Legendary producer, started as a song fixer and later created iconic choruses
The Buggles; Trevor Horn Productions
Episode: III. Preaching to the Chorus (ft. Cypress Hill and Trevor Horn)
Grace Dorman
Music writer and professional playlist maker
Episode: I. Let's get it started (ft. Aaron Dessner)
Aaron Dessner
Music producer and member of The National, collaborated with Taylor Swift
The National / Taylor Swift collaborations
Episode: I. Let's get it started (ft. Aaron Dessner)
Zach Tenorio
Keyboardist for Arc Iris
Arc Iris
Episode: How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris)
Jocie Adams
Vocalist, musician, and arranger for Arc Iris
Arc Iris
Episode: How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris)
Katie Gavin
Member of MUNA, vocalist
MUNA
Episode: Why bands give us purpose (ft. MUNA)
Naomi McPherson
Member of MUNA, guitarist/keyboardist
MUNA
Episode: Why bands give us purpose (ft. MUNA)
Josette Maskin
Member of MUNA, guitarist/producer
MUNA
Episode: Why bands give us purpose (ft. MUNA)

Hosts

Nate Sloan
Host of Switched on Pop; musicologist with a focus on pop music analysis and production context.
Charlie Harding
Co-host and songwriter with a focus on the craft and storytelling of pop music.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • I like their album breakdowns

    Can you please do an episode on Ariana’s album petal?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vxg25
    United States16 days ago
  • Seher Gut.

    对于一个英语学习者来说,再好不过了!Charlie和Nate关于音乐的对谈很松弛,用最简单的方式讲最内核的音乐理解,你值得拥有。

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ẞďć
    China2 months ago
  • This is crazy 🤪

    I correctly thought that the song was Luther by Kendrick Lamar btw!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luvuguyzzzz
    United States2 months ago
  • GREAT!!!

    I like it! It is the best sow that I have never heard!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ayn Rand …
    United States2 months ago
  • Multigen fun

    My teen son and I bond over our mutual love of this podcast. As a Millennial mom, it keeps me current. I know it exposes him to a backlog of artistic influences from…the 1900s. 😎

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bes9r3
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows deep musical knowledge with thoughtful analysis.
Loved the rigorous breakdowns of song structure and production.
Some episodes are more theory-heavy; listeners want more accessible episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rostam reimagines American music
Q: How do you begin producing an album when working with different collaborators?
He describes a flexible approach: sometimes starting from scratch in the studio, other times building around the artist's initial idea, with collaborative production shaping the final sound.
Rostam reimagines American music
Q: What is the feeling you're telling us about in this album?
Rostam explains that the album explores intimate relationships and emotional ownership within a broader, optimistic vision of the American project, balancing personal vulnerability with a larger sense of national identity.
BTS is back. But K Pop is not the same.
Q: Hye Jin, what was your reaction when you heard this album title and heard this interpolation of this Korean folk song in the opening track of the album?
Hye Jin explains that using Arirang as a framework creates a bold, high-visibility through-line that anchors the album in Korean heritage while still opening space for global, contemporary pop influences. She notes the careful balance BTS strikes between tradition and modernity, and how the interpolation signals intentional Koreanness in a world-ready package.
Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Q: Did you ever imagine Drops of Jupiter would have this kind of longevity?
No, never. We didn't expect it to last this long, and the success came with its own set of pressures and expectations, which shaped how we approached future music and public reception.
Learning to Love Train: "Drops of Jupiter" is back in the atmosphere
Q: Charlie, I'm going to name some things and you tell me what they make you think of, okay?
Things like Mozart, Taibo, fried chicken and the best soy latte you've ever had evoke a mixture of nostalgia, specificity, and personal anchors that inform the song's grounded storytelling, ultimately contributing to its lasting resonance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Switched on Pop

What is Switched on Pop about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two musicologists-turned-critics unpack pop music with rigorous analysis, inviting guests from classical to contemporary scenes to illuminate how songs are constructed—from intros and verses to bridges and choruses. Episodes frequently blend lyrical storytelling with production insight, referencing artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Madonna, Lang Lang, and Zara Larsson to illustrate timeless craft and modern innovation. A standout pattern is a strong focus on song structure and vocal architecture, paired with accessible cultural context and witty banter, which helps listeners understand both the art and the craft behind popular tracks. The show often features high-profile guests, deep-dive theory, and practical songwriting takeaways, making it a... more

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How many subscribers and views does Switched on Pop have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Switched on Pop has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Switched on Pop?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Switched on Pop:

1. Song Exploder
2. Popcast
3. Pop Pantheon
4. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
5. Pop Culture Happy Hour

How many episodes of Switched on Pop are there?

Switched on Pop launched 12 years ago and published 553 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Switched on Pop?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Switched on Pop from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Switched on Pop?

Recent guests on Switched on Pop include:

1. Lang Lang
2. Trevor Horn
3. Grace Dorman
4. Aaron Dessner
5. Zach Tenorio
6. Jocie Adams
7. Katie Gavin
8. Naomi McPherson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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